Electric teeter totter switch

ABSTRACT

A mechanically actuated multicontact electrical switch having an electrical status dependent upon its history is disclosed comprising a linear toothed member, a gear supported on and rotatable about an axis and a contact device frictionally driven by the gear. When the gear is rotated from an initial position sufficiently far to cause slippage of the frictional engagement between the gear and the contact device and then returned to its initial position the electrical status of the switch may be different. The switch has particular utility when mechanically linked to an automobile accelerator pedal and electrically connected with a series of indicator lights to indicate to another driver how the so equipped automobile is being operated.

United States Patent Hoffman Mar. 21, 1972 [541 ELECTRIC TEETER TOTTERSWITCH 3,077,963 2/1963 Volker ..200 153 P x [72] Inventor: Benedict J.Hoffman, 2230 Chestnut Primary Examiner Roben K Schaefer Street FortWayne 46803 Assistant Examiner-Robert A. Vanderhye 22 Filed; Oct 22 1970Attorney.leffers and Rickert pp 82,976 57 ABSTRACT A mechanicallyactuated multicontact electrical switch having [52] US. 'Cl .200/153 P,ZOO/61.89, 340/71 an elegtrical status dependent upon its history isdisclosed llll- Cl i 3 i H 3/40, lh 3/1 comprising a linear toothedmember, a gear supported on and [58] Field of Search .....200/158, 153P, 61.89, 61.46, rotatable about an axis and a contact devicefrictionally driven 200/156; 340/71 by the gear. When the gear isrotated from an initial position sufficiently far to cause slippage ofthe frictional engagement [56] References Cit d between the gear and thecontact device and then returned to its initial position the electricalstatus of the switch may be dif- UNITED STATES PATENTS ferent. Theswitch has particular utility when mechanically linked to an automobileaccelerator pedal and electrically 3,439,325 4/1969 Lelchsenrmg..200/6l.89 X connected with a Series of indicator lights to indicate to3,435,167 3/1969 Pfleger ..200/156 another driver how the so equippedautomobile is being 3,469,042 9/1969 Sandor .200/153 P x operated3,196,238 7/1965 Freund et a1. .....200/153 P 3,129,300 4/1964 Moyles..200/6l.46 8 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures 1 I HI! PATENTEDMARZI I972 SHEET1 UF 2 INVEN TO R vv/vvv wage.

III

BENEDICT J. HOFFMAN ATTORNEYS PATENTEDMARZI 1912 3,651,293

SHEET 2 UF 2 s5 g PURPLE AMBER INVENTOR BENEDICT J. HOFFMAN BY MW ATORNEYS ELECTRIC TEETER TOTTER SWITCH BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thepresent invention relates to an electrical switch and more especially anelectrical switch whose present electrical status is dependent not onlyon the position of the actuating member but also on previous positionsof that actuating member. In its preferred environment the presentinvention represents a substantial improvement over the well-knownautomobile stop light switch and variations thereon.

The prior art automobile status indicator lights have generally been thesimple and well-known brake light which is energized by a simple pair ofcontacts which in turn are mechanically or hydraulically responsive toactuation of the brake pedal. There have been other attempts to provideadditional indications, however, these other attempts have not beenwidely accepted.

One such attempt is indicated by the patent to Antunovic, US. Pat. No.3,375,496 which discloses a deceleration indicator actuated only by theaccelerator linkage and effective to sequentially energize a series ofthree lights depending on the extent to which the accelerator pedal isdepressed. If the pedal is clear down none of the lights are lit,partial release energizes one light and so on until the pedal isentirely released at which time all three lights are energized. Thepresent invention represents a substantial improvement over theAntunovic patent in that no more than one of three colored indicatorlights is energized at any given time and further that the particularindicator which is energized is dependent not only upon the presentpositioning of the accelerator pedal but also previous recent positions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an improvedsystem of indicator lights for a vehicle actuated by a novel switchingstructure connected to the accelerator pedal. The switching structurecomprises a linear toothed member which mates with a gear and the gearin turn frictionally drives one plurality of contacts while anotherplurality of contacts reside on the linear toothed member. Motion of thelinear member rotates the gear and the contact means until electricalconnection is established at which time further rotation of the gearcauses the contact means to slide relative to the gear such that when areversal of this linear motion of the linear toothed member occurs newelectrical connections will be set up at new relative positions of thelinear member. The actual mechanical actuation of the switch may occureither by straightline motion of the toothed member or by rotary motionimparted to the gear. Due to the frictional engagement and possibleslippage between the gear and the contact means, the response of theswitch to motion is dependent upon its history rather than beinginvariate.

Accordingly, it is one object of the present invention to pro vide a setof indicator lights for a vehicle indicative of the manner in which thevehicle is being operated.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an electricalswitch having a memory.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an electricalswitch whose electrical status is dependent upon its history.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide anelectrical switch responsive to accelerator pedal movement forselectively energizing a plurality of distinguishable indicator lights.

These and other objects of the present invention will appear moreclearly from a detailed reading of the description of the preferredembodiment in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is an end view of the switch ofthe present invention; FIG. 2 is a side view along the line 2-2 of FIG.1 further illustrating two possible positions of the contact means;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the linear toothed member of FIGS. 1 and 2having four exposed electrical contacts associated with it;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view along the lines 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the contact means and frictional engagingportion of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a set of signal lights;

FIG. 7 is a top view similar to FIG. 3 but having a differentarrangement of electrical contacts; and

FIG. 8 is a top view of the contact means similar to that shown in FIG.5 but for use in conjunction with the linear member of FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Turning first to the end viewshown in FIG. I, the switch of the present invention is seen to consistof an axle 11 supported by a housing 13 at two points, 15 and 17. A gear19 is supported by this axle and adapted to rotate about it. The gear 19engages the corrugations on a linear toothed member 21 so that rotationof the gear imparts a linear sliding motion to the linear member 21 andconversely, imparting a linear motion to the member 21 drives the gear19in a rotary motion about its axle 11. An arm 23 may be provided fordriving the gear 19 if desired. A second member or contact means 25 isalso suspended from and free to rotate about the axle 11 withinprescribed limits. This contact means has a series of electricalcontacts in fairly close proximity to the linear toothed member andwhich when in the proper position form electrical connections withcontacts on the linear member. The contact means also has a frictionalengaging portion 27 which forms a frictional drive between the gear 19and the member 25. While there are numerous ways to effect the desiredfrictional drive, the frictional engaging portion 27 is urged againstgear 19 by a spring 29 whose tension may be adjustable for example, by anut 31 on the threaded portion of the axle 11.

Turning now to FIG. 2 and considering first only the toothed gear orwheel 19 and the linear member 21 it is clear that sliding motion of thecorrugated or toothed member 21 will impart a rotary motion to the gear19 and conversely rotation of the gear 19 will result in a linear motionof the toothed member 21. The gear 19 is illustrated as beingincompletely toothed because, for the dimensions shown, the limits oftravel of the linear member 21 do not require a full 360 gear, however,smaller diameter gears or longer linear members might require a completegear toothing. The gear 19 rotates about its axle 11 and may be eitherfree to rotate on the axle or the axle and gear may be relatively fixedwith the relative motion occurring at the support points 15 and 17. Thecontact member 25 is also supported on the axle 1 1 and rotates aboutthat axis. Again the contact member may rotate relative to the axle (orcould be affixed to the axle with the relative rotation occurring at thesupport points 15 and 17.) The critical factor is that both the gear 19and the contact member 25 must be free to rotate with a frictioncoupling between them which will yield under the appropriate appliedforce. Thus, the frictional contact might be, for example, theconnection between the gear 19 and the axle 11 with the contact member25 being fixed to the axle. Several similar modifications will nowreadily present themselves to those of ordinary skill in the art.

Before returning to FIG. 2 for a discussion of the operation of thepresent invention, reference should be had to FIGS. 3 and 4 whichpresent top and sectional views of the linear sliding member 21. Thismember is provided with an aperture 33 for connection to an automobileaccelerator pedal linkage, the lever also being provided with anaperture 33 so that the switch may be optionally actuated by linearmotion 33 or rotary motion 33. The linear member 21 is provided with aseries of corrugations 35 which form a linear gear adapted to mesh withthe teeth of the gear 19. Along a series of lines somewhat parallel toits direction of intended motion, the linear member has a series ofelectrical contacts 37, 39, 41 and 43 which as seen in FIG. 4 areexposed only along a certain portion of these hypothetical lines and arethen beneath the surface of the linear member 21 in an insulated fashionso as to communicate with the ends of that member.

Turning briefly to FIG. 5, the contact means 25 is seen to comprise notonly the frictional engaging portion 27 discussed in reference to FIGS.1 and 2 but also a plurality of electrical contacts 45, 47, 51 and 53.In the preferred embodiment, the contacts of the contact member 25 areall electrically interconnected and connected to the axle 11 so that oneterminal of the switch is actually the axle 11 which may be grounded tothe support framework 13. While it is clearly possible to insulate orinterconnect the plurality of contacts on the contact means in adifferent fashion, the present preferred embodiment serves to connectone of the contacts 37, 39, 41 or 43 to the ground or housing 13.

Returning now to FIG. 2, the operation of the switch of the presentinvention should be easily understood. Assume that operation of theswitch is begun when the contact means 25 is in the position illustratedby the dotted lines. Under these circumstances terminal 51 of thecontact means 25 is touching and forming an electrical connection withcontact 43 and hence when the switch is in this status, conductor 55 ofFIG. 3 is grounded. Assume now that linear motion is imparted to themember 21 toward the right as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. Under thecircumstances, the gear 19 rotates, however, the contact member 25 slipsrelative to the gear 19 because the contact terminal 51 is resting onterminal 43 and the contact 53 is resting on an insulated portion of thelinear member 21 adjacent to the contact 41. As the linear member 21slides toward the right, connection between contacts 51 and 43 is brokenand at about the same time an electrical connection is effected betweencontacts'4l and 53. The status of the switch has now changed so thatconductor 57 is grounded. If at this time the linear member 21 were slidto the left the gear 19 as well as the contact member 25 would rotate ina clockwise direction until contact 47 came to rest on contact 39 whichin the illustrated configuration would again ground conductor 55. It isthis limited rotational movement executed by the contact member 25 whichgives rise to the concept of calling the present invention a teetertotter switch. At this point, it should be noted that if it were desiredto reestablish electrical connection between the contacts 43 and 51 itwould first be necessary to move the linear member 21 further to theleft so as to establish contact between the contacts 37 and 45 and thenmove the member 21 toward the right. If rightward motion is begun at thetime contacts 39 and 47 are connected, contact will be reestablishedbetween contacts 41 and 53. Thus, it should now be clear that theelectrical status of the switch is dependent not only on the specificmechanical actuation it receives during its present movement but on itsprevious status. Thus the switch has a memory.

Before discussing the relatively straightforward electrical circuitshown in FIG. 6, FIGS. 3 and 7 should be compared. Contacts 41 and 41are substantially identical while contact 43 is substantially longerthan contact 43. The contact 37' which corresponds electrically tocontact 37 of FIG. 3 has been substantially increased in size.innumerable variations of this type are, of course possible however, thespecific configuration shown in FIG. 7 has been found to be particularlysuited to the present preferred embodiment of an electrical switchactuated by the accelerator pedal linkage which energizes indicatorlights which indicate the way in which the so equipped vehicle is beingoperated. FIG. 8 illustrates a modified contact member similar to thatshown in FIG. and preferably em ployed in conjunction with the linearmember illustrated in FIG. 7. It should, however, be noted that thecontact member of FIG. 8 could be used in conjunction with the specificcontact configuration of FIG. 3. The distinctions between the contactconfigurations of FIGS. 3 and 7 will become readily apparent indiscussing the lighting sequence achievable by each.

Turning now to FIG. 6 a schematic diagram showing three indicator lightsand a source of electrical energy such as an automobile battery 61which, in conjunction with the specific switch configuration shown inFIG. 3 or better still FIG. 7, will achieve the preferred embodiment ofan automobile signal light system is shown. One terminal of each of thethree indicator lights 63, 65 and 67 is connected to one terminal of thebattery 61, the other battery terminal being grounded. The remaininglead from each of the three indicator lights is connected to one of theconductors 55, 57 and 59 or 55', 57' and 59' in one of the switches andas previously noted, the contact member 25 is effective to ground whichever of the contacts 37, 39, 41 or 43 or 37, 41 or 43 it happens to betouching. The contact actions of the FIG. 3 embodiment will beconsidered first.

Assume now that for variety the aperture 33' is connected to some pointin the accelerator pedal linkage such that the spring biasing of thatpedal tends to rotate the gear 19 in a clockwise direction as viewed inFIG. 2. In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, theleftward travel of the member 21 may exceed that necessary to effectcontact between the terminals 45 and 37 so that in its leftmost or restposition terminals 45 and 47 of the contact means 25 are both resting oninsulated portions of the board. Under these circumstances, with theaccelerator in its rest position no lights will be lit save perhaps forthe standard automobile brake light which is independently operated bythe brake pedal in the usual manner. When the operator depresses theaccelerator pedal the arm 23 and the gear 19 will rotate in acounterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2 lifting the contacts 45and 47 from their rest position on insulated portions of the board andpressing contacts 51 and 53 down onto another insulated section of theboard. Further depression of the accelerator pedal causes the linearmember of board 21 to move toward the right with the contacts 51 and 53sliding along the board until such time as contact 51 forms anelectrical connection to contact 43 thus energizing the green indicatorlight by way of conductor 55. Further depression of the acceleratorpedal as for example, during very rapid acceleration or when theautomobile is exceeding some predetermined speed will result in thegreen light being extinguished and the purple light 65 being energizeddue to contact between the contacts 53 and 41. If now the operator easesoff the gas pedal, the purple light 65 will be extinguished and thegreen light 63 will again come on this time due to contact betweencontacts 39 and 47. Further release of the accelerator pedal will causethe linear member 21 to slip further to the left so that contact betweenterminals 39 and 47 will be broken and a new electrical connection willbe formed between contacts 45 and 37 thus energizing the amber or yellowlight 67 by way of conductor 59. This light is of course a caution lightindicating an impending stop. Further reduction in the acceleratordepression results in the amber light being extinguished and as a ruleat this time the brake pedal will be depressed energizing the standardred stop light. The present invention contemplates parameters whereinthe purple indicator light would be operative at speeds above 70 m.p.h.with the green light being intermittently energized under normal drivingconditions of less than 70 m.p.h. As one further illustration, consideran automobile moving down the highway at 70 m.plh. and attempting anemergency stop. The accelerator pedal would be released and the purplelight would be extinguishedand the green light energized. Depending uponhow rapidly the accelerator pedal pressure was released, the green lightwould stay on for a period of time and then extinguish to be replaced bythe amber light which would in turn extinguish at about the time thatthe standard red brake light came on. For situations less than thisemergency stop procedure, the sequence would be the same, however, theperiod of time that each light remained on would of course varytremendously. For a stop from say 65 m.p.h. a different situation wouldprevail. At a steady 65 m.p.h. the green light would be energized due tothe contact 43 being grounded by way of contact member 25. If at thistime the gas pedal were eased up on slightly, the green light wouldextinguish and then come on again this time due to the contact 39 beinggrounded by way of contact member 25.

pressure would still fol- .different situation prevails. As notedearlier, the amber light contact 37 is larger as is the green lightcontact 43 while there is no second green light contact corresponding to39 in FIG. 3. As before, the purple light will be energized due to thegrounding of contact 41 whenever the automobile is being operated atspeeds in excess of 70 mph or under conditions of very rapidacceleration. In contradistinction to the previous example however,whenever the accelerator pedal pressure is diminished the amber oryellow light will'be energized clue to the grounding of contact 37'.Thus, one side of the teeter totter operation results in either thegrounding of contact 37 or no indication in the event that the linearmember has been slid so far to the left that the contact member 25 nowrests on the insulated portion beyond the contact 37. For theconfiguration shown in FIG. 7, the green light will always be energizedat times of constant or reasonably increasing speeds and similarly theamber light will be energized during all times of reasonabledeceleration.

It should be clear from the foregoing discussion that a multitude ofpossible variations are possible with the switch of the presentinvention. Thus, the several contacts 45, 47, 51 and 53 may be insulatedone from the other and each provided with a conductor for variouspossible energizations. Similarly, many more contact strips than thoseshown in FIG. 3 may be used and a number of contact members 25 whichrotate or slip under different circumstances may be provided. These andother modifications of the present invention should be obvious to one ofordinary skill in the art in light of the foregoing teachings andaccordingly the scope of the present invention is to be measured only bythat of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A mechanically actuated multicontact electrical switch having anelectrical status dependent upon its history comprism a first memberhaving a first plurality of electrical contacts,

said first member being provided with a linear corrugated portion;

a second member having a second plurality of electrical contacts; and

means coupling said first and second members and adapted to move one ofsaid members relative to the other in a first manner withinpredeterminedlimits and to move said one member relative to said othermember in a second manner when said limits are exceeded, said means forcoupling comprising a gear adapted to engage said linear corrugatedportion and a surface adapted to frictionally engage said second member.

2. The switch of claim 1 wherein motion in said first manner occurs whenthe frictional forces between said second member and said gear surfaceare not exceeded and motion in said second manner occurs when thefrictional forces between said second member and said gear surface areexceeded.

3. The switch of claim 1 wherein the mechanical actuation is a rotarymotion imparted to said gear.

4. A mechanically actuated multicontact electrical switch having anelectrical status dependent upon its history comprismg:

a first member having a first plurality of electrical contacts;

a second member having a second plurality of electrical contacts; and

means coupling said first and second members responsive to linear motionsupplied to said first member to move said second member in a firstmanner within predetermined limits and to move said second member in asecond manner when said limits are exceeded.

5. A switch comprising:

a supported axle;

a gear supported on and rotatable about said axle; a mear toothed memberadapted to mesh with said gear and to slide along its linear axis inconjunction with rotation of said gear; contact means suspended from andfree to rotate within prescribed limits about said axle, said contactmeans adapted to complete an electrical circuit when its rotationalposition is at one of the prescribed limits; and

friction means connecting said contact means and said gear to effectdrive of said contact means by said gear when the rotational position ofsaid contact means is within said prescribed limits and to allowrelative slippage between said contact means and said gear when therotational position of said contact means is at one of the end pointslimits.

6. The switch of claim 5 wherein said axle is rotatably supported andone of said gear and said contact means is fixedly attached to saidaxle.

7. The switch of claim 5 wherein said linear toothed member is providedwith a plurality of electrical contacts, said contact means forming anelectrical connection with at least one of said electrical contacts atat least one of the points of the prescribed limits of rotation of saidcontact means.

8. The switch of claim 7 wherein a different electrical connection maybe formed by effecting relative slippage between said contact means andsaid gear and then returning said gear to its original position.

5 3 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION paten No.3,651,293 Dated March 21, 1972 I Inventofls) Benedict .J. Hoffman It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent I and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 6, line 32 (Claim 5) "direct" omitted between "effect" and"drive". Y

Column 6 line 36 (Claim 5); "end points" should be- --'--prescribed---.

Column 6, line 44 (Claim 7), "end" omitted between "the" and "points".

fiign'sd and sealed this 25th day of July 19'22.

HDWTPU MF1QETGHEJH,JE. ROBERT G-UTTSCHALK Mizmwting Officer Commissionerof Patents zg gg UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTIONPatent No. 3,651,293 I Dated March 21, 197;

Inveritofls) Be edictflJ. Hoffman It is certified that error appears inthe above-identified patent I and that said Letters Patent are herebycorrected as shown below:

Column 6, line 32 (Claim 5) "direct" omitted between I I "effect" and"drive".

Column 6, line 36 (Claim 5 "end points" should be" ---prescribed---.

Column 6, line 44 (Claim 7) "end" omitted between "the" and "points". i

Signed and sealed this 25th day of July 19 1?.

E'IMfidfi ihFIjfl'lCfiihi-E ffie GUTTSGHALK Ettmxting OfficerCommissioner of Patents

1. A mechanically actuated multicontact electrical switch having anelectrical status dependent upon its history comprising: a first memberhaving a first plurality of electrical contacts, said first member beingprovided with a linear corrugated portion; a second member having asecond plurality of electrical contacts; and means coupling said firstand second members and adapted to move one of said members relative tothe other in a first manner within predetermined limits and to move saidone member relative to said other member in a second manner when saidlimits are exceeded, said means for coupling comprising a gear adaptedto engage said linear corrugated portion and a surface adapted tofrictionally engage said second member.
 2. The switch of claim 1 whereinmotion in said first manner occurs when the frictional forces betweensaid second member and said gear surface are not exceeded and motion insaid second manner occurs when the frictional forces between said secondmember and said gear surface are exceeded.
 3. The switch of claim 1wherein the mechanical actuation is a rotary motion imparted to saidgear.
 4. A mechanically actuated multicontact electrical switch havingan electrical status dependent upon its history comprising: a firstmember having a first plurality of electrical contacts; a second memberhaving a second plurality of electrical contacts; and means couplingsaid first and second members responsive to linear motion supplied tosaid first member to move said second member in a first manner withinpredetermined limits and to move said second member in a second mannerwhen said limits are exceeded.
 5. A switch comprising: a supported axle;a gear supported on and rotatable about said axle; a linear toothedmember adapted to mesh with said gear and to slide along its linear axisin conjunction with rotation of said gear; contact means suspended fromand free to rotate within prescribed limits about said axle, saidcontact means adapted to complete an electrical circuit when itsrotational position is at one of the prescribed limits; and frictionmeans connecting said contact means and said gear to effect drive ofsaid contact means by said gear when the rotational position of saidcontact means is within said prescribed limits and to allow relativeslippage between said contact means and said gear when the rotationalposition of said contact means is at one of the end points limits. 6.The switch of claim 5 wherein said axle is rotatably supported and oneof said gear and said contact means is fixedly attached to said axle. 7.The switch of claim 5 wherein said linear toothed member is providedwith a plurality of electrical contacts, said contact means forming anelectrical connection with at least one of said electrical contacts atat least one of the points of the prescribed limits of rotation of saidcontact means.
 8. The switch of claim 7 wherein a different electricalconnection may be formed by effecting relative slippage between saidcontact means and said gear and then returning said gear to its originalposition.